Morning Free Association: Tuukka’s Back

After taking a few days personal leave to attend to his family, Tuukka Rask is back and ready to focus on being a hockey player again. He gave some time to media in front his locker on Tuesday and while he didn’t give too many specifics (and he didn’t need to do so), it’s obvious that he felt that he needed to focus on his family.

Rask: “I have a job. My job is to be a hockey goalie for the Boston Bruins & I also have another job title & that’s a family man. This was a time when deep inside my heart I felt like I needed to take time to be with my family & make things right."

It has to be difficult for athletes and their families during a long season, especially one that requires travel time that can take players away from their loved ones multiple times a week or for weeks at a time. Even when they are home, their schedules are such that require training, practice, and film study during the course of a day. The CBA requires that NHL players get at least four days off per month and travel days don’t count toward that. While an outsider might think this hockey playing life is exotic and exciting, it must really wear on a player. Imagine going into a season, trying to settle into your job and having some issues at home with family that you can’t address because of this crazy schedule?

Tuukka did the right thing because he’s a person, a family man, first and a hockey player second. He says the issue is now in the past and that he’s ready to move ahead. I hope that’s the case because family is important. His hockey family waited for him so he could take care of his family at home.

Yesterday, the Bruins performed a bunch of transactions and gave some updates.

Defenseman Jakob Zboril was recalled from Providence for the upcoming four-game road trip. Cassidy stated in his presser that Zboril was called up just in case another defenseman becomes injured/ ill and would probably end up playing some time this weekend.

Goalie Dan Vladar, who spent the weekend as a backup without seeing any game action, was sent back to Providence. Both Jakub Forsbacka Karlsson and Jeremy Lauzon remain with the team, with Lauzon’s assignment being designated as a regular recall as opposed to the emergency one he was recalled upon. Both will travel with the team.

Brandon Carlo will remain out of the lineup for at least Wednesday and will not travel but may rejoin the team this weekend. Kevan Miller will travel with the team for practice purposes, expecting to play next Wednesday in Detroit. Both Charlie McAvoy and Urho Vaakanainen are both able to skate but will not travel with the team. Cassidy did leave it open that either or both could join the team on the road.

About the german hammer

This website always tells me my password is bad, no matter if we change it or whatever. I can’t type it wrong EVERY TIME!

I have been super productive at home, which is good because I had some shit in boxes that I hadn’t unpacked yet because I won’t necessary need it at this apartment or it’s seasonal or whatever, but I emptied half the boxes last night and I’m like whooooooooooooooooooa

I had three slices of American cheese for dinner last night. I COULDNT STOP CLEANING

FINALLY!!!!! hockey tonight!

?cid=3640f6095bec4dbd6c6551596bd78e8f

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November 14, 2018 11:31 am

Editor

Satan 81's Sister

I have been super productive at home,

I’ve been having the urge to just throw out everything in my apartment. Bored with how it is right now.

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November 14, 2018 12:12 pm

Editor

Satan 81's Sister

I had three slices of American cheese for dinner last night.

I had cereal for dinner the other night because I was tired and was in no mood to cook anything.

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November 14, 2018 12:13 pm

Member

The London Bear

When I got in last night Mrs Bear asked what I’d had for dinner. I said “Beer. But I did have a big lunch!”

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November 14, 2018 12:21 pm

Editor

Satan 81's Sister

Ha!

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November 14, 2018 12:27 pm

Member

The London Bear

I had some shit in boxes that I hadn’t unpacked yet

We’ve still got stuff wrapped in newspaper in boxes and we moved four years ago!

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November 14, 2018 12:23 pm

Member

Quaider4ever

Jo and i are also in shitcan it mode. We’re terrib le at it!

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November 14, 2018 1:11 pm

Member

Quaider4ever

Decided to retire from scholastic sports. Although i asked my schedulers to leave me on low level games, my first assignment was prep varsity boys. I was excited, but realized i can’t do the job anymore. It really wouldn’t be fair to the athletes if i can’t keep up – and i can’t anymore. So adult league only now, lower levels. I’ll miss the good stuff, but i don’t want to be the guy that hung on too long.
Gotta look at the bright side – more time to paddle!!!

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November 14, 2018 10:23 am

Admin

IntentionallyWidenberg

Too bad. This makes me a little sad. But when something isn’t working for you, it isn’t working.

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November 14, 2018 11:03 am

Author

the german hammer

It’s good to realize that it isn’t working because it isn’t fair to either you or the players you’re reffing. I think you should look at it like you had a good career! You saw lots of players who made it to the NHL.

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November 14, 2018 11:22 am

Member

Quaider4ever

Thanks. That’s how i’m trying to see it.

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November 14, 2018 1:02 pm

Editor

phonymahoney

Awww, sorry pal! You’re the funnest ref!

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November 14, 2018 11:32 am

Member

Quaider4ever

There’s still fun to be had with adult league! I will miss banter with coaches, going out for a couple cold ones with your partner…..but, hey! I can still have a couple fold ones with the guys…. and now i can heckle coaches. They’ll be like… Whaddafug?

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November 14, 2018 1:06 pm

Editor

Satan 81's Sister

Post office across from my office is closed today for repairs after someone drove into it yesterday. It’s been fun to watch people try to go it and get confused by the locked door and sign saying they’re closed.

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November 14, 2018 10:05 am

Member

The London Bear

Is that the one you shared the picture on Twitter yesterday? That building appears to be made of wood. Bricks stand up better against cars!

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November 14, 2018 10:10 am

Editor

Satan 81's Sister

Yup, the one I linked yesterday. Damaged parts are boarded up right now!

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November 14, 2018 10:20 am

Admin

IntentionallyWidenberg

I’d have thought they’d have fixed that after the court case of
“Pig with Sticks et. al. vs Wolf, Big Bad”

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November 14, 2018 10:55 am

Editor

Satan 81's Sister

Sadly the Pigs fell on hard times and the bank foreclosed on the house.

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November 14, 2018 11:19 am

Editor

phonymahoney

Apparently you never believe it ’til it happens to you.

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November 14, 2018 11:34 am

Member

Quaider4ever

Did those flurries we saw.on the covered bridge csm turn to ice? Also, webcam vid of the crash? Asking for a f(r)iend!

I read this as “furries on the covered bridge cam”, and I was like, WHOA, YOU GUYS WERE WATCHING AT JUST THE RIGHT TIME?cid=3640f6095bec4edb74587a44672105d3

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November 14, 2018 11:36 am

Member

Quaider4ever

Meoooowwwe!!!

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November 14, 2018 1:08 pm

Author

the german hammer

I honestly didn’t expect that to happen with that car I sent through the portal.

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November 14, 2018 11:23 am

Editor

phonymahoney

BUT NOTHING CAN STOP THE U.S. MAIL??!?!?cid=3640f6095bec4e3e6d5a396a5952ac5c

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November 14, 2018 11:33 am

Editor

Satan 81's Sister

Morning all. I’d complain about the cold but I’m saving that for the stupid negative degree days.
Glad Tuukka’s back and hope all is well. We all need a break every now and then. Sports seasons are a grind and you miss a lot and time with family is rare.

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November 14, 2018 9:16 am

Member

The London Bear

Hey folks.

Interesting – I didn’t interpret Tuukka’s family time as dealing with a family issue. More I thought he meant he needed to spend with his family to get his head straight after a rough start to the season, you know – get away from that high-pressure environment for a bit.

Whatever it was, hopefully all is good now with him.

I went along to a guitar jam last night in a pub in London. Decided to wear my Halak shirsey because a) Halak rocks and b) it has a big musical note on the front (yes it’s an old one!).
As I went to the bar one time a guy said to me: “My friend said to tell you St Louis Blues suck”. I explained I was more a Halak fan than a Blues fan… Turned out his friend was Latvian, so we had a little chat about Girgensons and the Sabres. I do like that about London – you could bump into anyone from anywhere! And, would you believe, I quite enjoy chatting with people I’ve never met …

Interesting – I didn’t interpret Tuukka’s family time as dealing with a family issue. More I thought he meant he needed to spend with his family to get his head straight after a rough start to the season, you know – get away from that high-pressure environment for a bit.

I think it’s purposely open to interpretation, which is fine because it really is none of our business. I guess I looked at it as more of a shoring up some issues rather than his needing the support because I prefer to look at these guys as being on a hero’s journey or something of the like. Perhaps I don’t want make something seem like a perceived weakness, which it isn’t. But, I understand how you see it and how maybe I’m misinterpreting it.

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November 14, 2018 11:33 am

Member

The London Bear

As you say, we’ll never know – and that’s fine!

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November 14, 2018 11:43 am

Member

Quaider4ever

Hi Pals!
Easy double last night, although it was a late one. Got off the ice about 11:30. Should be done by 11 tonight.
One thing this injury bug has demonstrated – depth!!!! The Bs seem to be loaded right now!
Do the Bs still own the rights to Rick Nash? Maybe he’d do the Fisher thing. Come in at the trade deadline, get in shape for playoffs, score in said playoffs. Maybe they won’t need him by then.